Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-07

chambers, at cos; of $50. 600. has not re.
ceived the favor of the past Legislatures,
DO not now renew it. Bur l urgently recon-
mend that fire-proof brick building of mod
erste cost be erected in the rear Of the State
House, the upper floor TO be given to the
| State Library and the lower floor to nre-
proof vaults for the permanent security OF all
the papers of the State which have perma-
nent value. AS the burden of State taxation
will be much lighter hereafter. the compare
| lively all cost Of building of this char
acter is hardly worthy of consideration, IN
view of the very great object 10 be sttained
| BY its construction. Its inestimable impor-
lance is nv excuse for urging il upon the
attention of the Legislature with such ear
/ nestnsss.
| Our shipbuiding and navigation interests,
| in common with those of other maritime ma
TONS are not as prosperous as could b. de-
siret. The cause of the decay in the Ameri-
can marine is not difficult TO explain. ard
regret that the remedy is not within the pow
| er of the State. In addition TO this, We are
vexed with a serious trouble TO the American
| fishing interest. 1t is evident that our fish
ermen are now TO be antagonized ov every
possible effort on the part of the Canadian
government. The Imperial government of
Great Britain, it is now announced, has sane
toned an act of the Canadian Parliament BY
which every marsh and unreasonable condi-
ton OF the Treaty of 1918 is to BE- revived
and enforced against American fishermen.
The plain motive of this is to coerce the
| United States into conceding trade relations
| " hich. under the name of "ret iprocity. are
hostile 10 many interests Ct our people.
IL is always desirable to maintain the most
friendly relations with our neighbors, bu,
,lx -, -. ~ 10, juty of
government to teach Canada that the spirit of
vlndictve aggression, which she is showing
towards our fishermen. cannot bring anv ad
vantage TO her. A simple and dire CT remedy
would be 20 levy such increased duty On the
fish she sends to the United States "a would
stimulate our own fishermen, and partially,
if net wholly, exclude Canadian fishermen
from our market. IL would, think. be ad
vantageous to demonstrate to the Canadian
government that retaliation is very easy.
and that, reluctant a. should be TO resort
TO it, we couli soon throw the loss incident
to the existing dispute wholly upon the fish
ermen of the Dominion.
Ii may, upon investigation, see m expedient
for YOU TO make proper representation to
| the national government on this subject,
whicn closely touches the interest OF many
| Of our citizens.
u
may congratulate ourselves that We assemble
at time of general prosperity in the State.
| While our progress is not 50 Rapid as that Of
some States more highly favored in natural
advantages, our growth is steady and sub
stantial. One most gratifying feature in our
| advan e is shown in the general participation
cf the p ople 10 all that relates to the growth
of the State in wealth and comfort. We do
not have one class in Maine growing unfairly
at the expense of any other. Under the
ben. fcent influence of protective tariff our
manufactures have largely expanded and
everv other industry OF The State, except the
one already referred to, has grown with them
The fifty four savings banks show that a
large surplus is in The hands of the mass of
the people. On the first dav of November
the aggregate deposits in those banks were
in excess Of S3S, 600. 900 The wide ds,ribu-
ton Of ownership of this large sum of
money is shown by the fact that the number
Of depositors was 1867. and of this
number more than 10000 owned less than
$500 each. The increase of deposits in the
past year was more than 50 600 900. and the
increase Of depositors was 5.293.
| These figures tell their own story and
speak more eloquenty and more persuasively
than any argument for the present industrial
system Of the linked States, which gives
such large facilities for the honest working
man 10 secure an lndepe udence, The savings
banks have done faithful work for the peo-
pie OF the State. and have encouraged a
spri of thrift and ECONOMY among all classes
which cannot be too highly praised. With
the came general object in view, another
torn of combined effort is now being
made by the building associations OF
the State, by which men of very
mod orate means are enabled to acquire com
! fortahle homes on easy terms and long time
! If anything can be done bv The legislative
power 10 promote the object of these new
associations, | nm sure they will receive your
most favorable consideration.
W. are entrusted with the government of
a STATE whose affairs in the past have been
wise ~ and prudentlv administered Cherish
ing spirit of devotion to public duty, and
invoking the blessing Of God. without whose
aid all human effort is vain. let us turn 10 the
work that is set before ia to do.
JOSEPH X BODWELL